20 July 2004	Tuesday	02 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

HYDERABAD, July 19: People's Party Parliamentarians MPA Makhdoom Jameel-uz-Zaman has demanded that the government should acquire the services of the Army Engineering Corps to strengthen the Bhanote protective embankment of the River Indus.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club on Monday, he said that if any breach occurred at the protective embankment during the monsoon rains and release of large quantity of water in the Indus river, then not only the Bhanote town would be washed away but the gushing water would also enter Hala and Bhitshah and threaten the shrines of Hazrat Makhdoom Nooh and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Mr Makhdoom said that if the government was allergic to the PPP then the leaders of other political parties should be asked to supervise the process of strengthening the embankment.

He said that the Bhanote protective embankment was in a dangerous condition and located at a curve where it was directly hit by the flow of water. He said that if immediate steps were not taken to strengthen the Bhanote bund, the losses in life and property would be colossal.

The MPA said that he had also spoken to the Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim about the dangerous condition but no steps to strengthen it had been initiated.

He recalled that the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif had visited the site and ordered emergency measures on the spot due to the vulnerability of the Bhanote bund. He said that the engineers had used "Katcha Stones" to strengthen the embankment as a result they were washed away by the Indus waters.

He wondered as to who had misappropriated Rs20 to Rs30 million at that time. He demanded that the government should order an inquiry into the misappropriation of huge funds.

He disclosed that he had been informed that about Rs5 to Rs6 million had been allocated to strengthen the Bhanote bund. He regretted that the same "katcha stone" was being dumped at the site which would again be washed away.

He demanded that the work to strengthen the embankment of River Indus at Bhanote should be given to the Army Engineering Corps instead of the corrupt irrigation officials and elected representatives of the people should be associated with this exercise.

Mr Makhdoom said that other major problem confronting the people of Hala taluka was rampant lawlessness. He alleged that shelterers of dacoits were being harboured by the powers that be.

He said that the police officials who were protecting the criminals were given rewards by their superiors. He said that it would be in the government's interest to punish those who were providing protection and shelter to criminals.

He said that these issues were raised by him on the floor of the assembly time and again but without any result. Answering a question about the Thar by-election, he said that the PPP would launch an election campaign for its candidate from July 24.

He claimed that if the election was held in free and transparent manner the PPP candidate, Mahesh Malani would emerge victorious with thumping majority. He alleged that Mr Malani was being harassed and intimidated by the government and added that he would not withdraw from the contest.